As enrollment in STEM education is dropping in the United States, educators are finding it increasingly challenging to engage their students. And limited resources makes it a challenge to provide students sufficient access to wet labs.
A study of 2,000 STEM classes showed that the majority of time is still being spent in conventional lectures where students are expected to passively absorb knowledge with little or no interaction or discussion.
We believe that it is essential that faculty deliver engaging, cutting edge, experiential instruction even with limited resources, but how do we make this happen? We believe the answer is to use a hybrid instructional model that combines the best of in-person and virtual instruction, an approach that maximizes learning and minimizes costs.
Combining virtual and in-person learning is nothing new. The aviation industry has embraced this model for years -- for obvious reasons: it’s extremely costly and extremely dangerous to train pilots in real airplanes. While the magnitude of the risk is much greater, the basic principle holds: like flight simulators, virtual lab simulations reduce costs and risk and improve learning outcomes. Now we can apply that same technology to higher education.
Labster's engaging virtual lab simulations work in the browser and in virtual reality (VR). They captivate students with relatable scenarios and animations, visualizing life science down to the molecular level.
Using elements from computer gaming combined with the psychology of learning, Labster’s simulations are proven to increase both learning and student motivation. They are designed to stimulate students’ natural curiosity and highlight the connection between science and the real world.
